Serving device for cans



March 8, 1938. N. H. BUSCHMAN SERVING DEVICE CANS Filed Sept. 25, 1935INVENTOR Na/han H Buschman ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1938 I Nathan n.Buschman, New York, N. Y.

Application September 25, 1935, Serial No. 41,985

12 claims.

My invention relates to improvements in means for receiving a can orcontainer and dispensing or serving the contents thereof, and the samehas for its object to provide a simple, reliable and eflicient devicewhich serves as a cutting or tapping means for the container or can andas an enclosure therefor ofsightly or pleasing appearance.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the container or can may be placed thereinand opened thereby without causing the contents of the container to bespilled or slopped out.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the cutting or puncturing element thereofserves as a guide for directing the flow of liquid from the can to theoutlet of the device in serving or dispensing the contents.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which a spout thereon serves as a trap forpreventing discharge of liquid from the device when the can is openedtherein.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide. a device of thecharacter specified in which said spout serves as a pivotal support forthe cover.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination,connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of one form of device constructed. inaccordance with and'embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts broken away and insection} Fig. 3 is a cross-section thereof on the line t3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line t-tl of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section illustrating a device with a modified form ofbody.

Referring to the drawing, the device comprising a body or receptacle Ihaving a spout H at one side thereof and a handle I2 at the oppositeside thereof. The body I!) is adapted to receive the can or container ithaving a liquid commodity It therein, such as beer, carbonatedbeverages, fruit juices or the like. The can I3 is usually constructedwith the beaded ends l forming the joints between the can body and theheads or ends l6 and providing outward recesses I! at the ends of thecan. Cans are usually made of tin plate although the device embodyingthe in-' vention is adapted for receiving containers made of othermaterials.

The body 10 is preferably of-a size large enough fpr loosely receivingthe can [3, and, as shown in Fig. 2, the bottom l8 thereof is formedwith a reentrant central portion IQ for receiving and seating therecessed end I l of the can It. The interior groove in the bottom Itsurrounding the reentrant portion It forms a sump for receiving anyliquid escaping from the can It and passing downwardly through theclearance 2i provided between the body ill and can it.

At Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modified body Illa having longitudinallyextending corrugations 22 therein in engagement with the can it forlocating or centering the same within the device and providing clearancepassages 23. for any slight amount of liquid which may escape from thecan when the same is opened or during the dispensing operation. Thisbody We when constructed of aluminum will, as a result of thesecorrugations, serve as an insulator of the cam 13 and will keep fluidscold for a longer period of time.

The top of the body MB is closed by a hinged cover at having a dependingflange 25 adapted to fit the inside of the mouth of the device and ahorizontal tongue portion 23 extending beyond the body it above themouth of the spout it. A channel member 2'6 is welded or otherwisesecured at the flange edges to the bottom of the cover 26 and the tongueportion 26 thereof to form with the cover 241 and the projecting tongueportion 26 a conduit 28 having the discharge end or nozzle 2t extendinginto the spout it below the upper edge till thereof. The flange 25 ofthe cover is preferably cut away as indicated at hi to allow the channelmember 2t to clear the same. The upper portion of the body it at thespout M is also cut away, as indicated at st, to provide clearance forthe channel member M where it projects into the spout i i,

In forming the spout M, the body it at the I clearance 32 is bentoutwardly to form ears 3% between which the cover 2% is mounted forpivotal movement by means of the rivets 3t passing through the outerends of the sides of the channel member 2! and the ears 33 The spout iiis preferably made of a separate piece welded or otherwise secured tothe outside of the cars 33 and the contiguous surface of the body illand serving to conceal the pivot members or rivets 3%.

A can cutting or rupturing element 35 in the, form of a tapered bladehaving a piercing point 36 and diverging cutting edges 31 projectsdownwardly and inwardly with a slight curve from the base or lower wallportion 38 of the channel member 21 at a point contiguous to the marginof the can l3 in the closed position of the cover 2 3. The base 38 isprovided with an inlet opening 39 located in advance of the base of theblade 35..

The blade 35 constitutes an apron depending from the opening 39 at theend thereof towards the discharge outlet 29. When the cover is closedthe opening 39 registers with the opening 49 formed in the can l3 bythecutter 35. The cutter 35 is preferably formed integrally with the baseportion 38 by striking out the material from the plane of said baseportion, leaving the opening 39 of corresponding shape.

The opening 39 has the opposite margins thereof adjacent to thedepending cutter 35 bent outwardly to form depending flanges 4| adapted,when the cover is closed, to engage the yieldable head iii of the can I3at opposite sides of the opening 40 formed therein by the cutter toconfine the fiow of the liquid contents to a path over said apron 35 andthrough said opening 39 and minimize the escape of liquid at oppositesides of the opening 40 over the top of the can I 3 and into theinterior of the receptacle Ill.

When it is desired to serve the contents of a can or container, the canis placed in the device duly centered therein, and the cover 24 is thenclosed by exerting pressure thereon at the side remote from the hinge33. The leverage thus aiforded causes the cutter 35 to penetrate the topof the can at an intermediate point thereon and to shear a portionthereof out to form the opening 40 of a shape conforming to that of thecutter, the opening formed being of substantial width at the basethereof near the can margin and tapering in width towards the center ofthe can.

When the cover 24 is thus actuated to tap the can or form the openingtherein, the cutting apron 35 enters the can, as shown more clearly inFig. 2, the apron 35 overlying the edge of the can at the base of theopening 49 and merging with the base of the discharge nozzle 29. Thecover 24 is preferably provided with a detent 42 for looking the same inclosed position with the flanges 4| in gasket-like engagement with thetop of the can.

When containers, or bottles, of beer or other live or carbonatedbeverages are opened there is a tendency for the contents to froth, orto violently discharge through the mouth of the bottle or opening in thecontainer, particularly when the contents has been overcharged with gasor Where the container has been filled too full. With the presentinvention the can or container is completely enclosed when the same isopened andany discharge or frothing occurring upon the tapping operationis directed against the upper wall portion or cover -24 serving as abaflle and through the conduit 28 into the spout II which serves as abafile or trap for the small quantity of liquid ejected from the nozzle29. Applicant's I construction prevents the spilling or slopping of theliquid upon the table or other support and the liquid received by thetrap H is vented into the interior of the receptacle l0 through theopening I la formed in the body ID at the lower end of the spout llbelow the nozzle 23.

The device embodying my invention is therefore sanitary and clean in useand effectively prevents the contents from slopping or spilling out whenthe can is opened.

When the cover 24 is closed, the can I3 is opened and is retained firmlyin place within the device by the engagement of the cutter 35 andflanges 4| therewith ready for use. When the contents of the can arepoured from the device the liquid fiows from the can 13 along the apron35, through the opening 39 for discharge from the nozzle 29 over themargin 39 of the spout H.

I have found that the liquid in being poured tends to follow a pathconfined to said apron 35, the liquid, apparently, having an affinityfor said apron and being directively guided thereby. The phenomenon ispossibly due to surface tension, capillary, molecular or other physicaleffect, although I do not desire to be bound by any theory as to themode of operation. It sumces that the member 35 insures an effectivetransfer of the liquid contents from the can to the passage 29 acrossthe intervening gap between the top of the can and the base of thechannel member 2'| without appreciable flow of liquid over paths intothe interior of the device III.

In the present invention, the spout H serves primarily as a trap forliquid ejected during the opening operation. It also preferably servesas means for pivotally supporting the cover with the projecting nozzleportion 29 of the channel member housed therein to provide a structuresufllciently strong to function as a can opener while retaining a neatappearance when in use for serving.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, a cover, a conduit including a projectingdischarge portion upon the inner side of said cover, means at the I baseof said conduit for opening said container and placing the same incommunication with said conduit, means on the receptacle for receivingsaid discharge portion,v and a piyotal connection between said lastnamed means and said projecting portion.

2. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having anopening in the margin thereof, and portions extending outwardly from theopposite sides of said opening, a cover, a conduit upon the inner sideof said cover including a projecting discharge portion extending throughsaid opening between said outwardly extending portions and pivotallyconnected thereto, and means at the base of the conduit for cutting opensaid container andplacing the same in communication with said conduit.

3. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having anenlarged marginal portion forming a spout, a cover, a conduit upon theinner side of said cover including a projecting discharge portionextending into said spout,'a pivotal connection between the spout andthe projecting discharge portion, and means on the conduit for openingsaid container and placing the same in'communication with said conduit.

4. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, a cover hinged to said receptacle, a conduit uponthe inner side of the cover including a transversely extending dischargeportion provided with a horizontally extending lower wall and an outlet,an inlet opening of substantial area in the base of said conduit lyingin the plane of said lower wall portion and in spaced relation above thecontainer to be opened, and a transversely disposed, tapering bladedepending from said lower wall portion at the margin of said inletopening towards said outlet, said blade serving to cut the top of saidcontainer when the cover is closed to form an opening in spaced relationbelow said inlet opening of an area enlarged relative to thecross-section of the blade,

and said blade serving as a liquid conducting apron connecting the twoopenings at the mar-' gins thereof towards said discharge portion.

5. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, 2. cover hinged to said receptacle, atransversely extending conduit on the cover at the inner side thereofincluding a discharge portion having a horizontally extending lower walland an outlet, an inlet opening of substantial area in the base of saidconduit lying in the plane of said lower wall and in spaced relationabove thecontainer, said inlet opening facing the upper side of the.conduit and being baflled thereby, a blade depending from said lowerwall at the side of said inlet opening towards said outlet, and means onthe receptacle forming a spout registering with said discharge portionand serving as a bafiie exposed to the discharge of liquid from saidoutlet.

6. A device of the character described comprising a. receptacle having aspout, a cover, a conduit upon the inner side of the cover provided withan inleiropening in the plane of the base thereof facing the oppositeside of the conduit and bafiied thereby and a discharge portionextending into said spout and pivotallyconnected thereto, said dischargeportion having an outlet facing said spout and bafiled thereby, and ablade depending from the 'base of said conduit below said inlet openingat the side thereof towards said outlet.

'7. A device of the character described com-- prising a receptacle forreceiving a container, 9. cover hinged to said receptacle, atransversely extending conduit upon the inner side of the cover having adischarge portion including a lower wall, and an inlet opening at thebottom thereof lying substantially in the plane of said lower wall, saidlower wall and said inlet open ing being spaced above the container, atransversely disposed, tapering blade extending downwardly and inwardlyfrom said wall in the closed position of the cover at the side of saidinlet opening towards said discharge portion for forming an opening inthe container of an area enlarged relative to the cross-section of theblade and in open communication with the space between said conduit andthe container, and portions of reduced depth depending from said conduitat opposite sides of said inlet opening contiguous to said blade forengagement with the top of the container, said blade and said dependingportions co-operating to direct the flow of liquid into the dischargeportion. 8. A device of the character described comprising a receptaclefor receiving a container, a cover, a conduit upon the inner side ofsaid cover including a projecting discharge portion having a lower wall,and pivotally connected to the receptacle at the discharge end of saidconduit, said conduit inwardly of said discharge portion having an inletopening Lying substantially in the plane of said lower wall, and atransversely disposed, tapering blade depending from said lower wall atthe contiguous side of said inlet opening and in relatively closerelation to the pivotal connection, said blade, when the cover isclosed, swinging downwardly and outwardly to cut an opening in thecontainer of an area enlarged relative to the cross-section of theblade. and said blade serving as a liquid conducting apron between saidopenings at the sides thereof towards said discharge portion.

9. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, a. spout projecting from the receptacle at oneside contiguous to the upper end thereof, a cover, a conduit upontheinner side of said cover including a discharge portion extendingthrough the wall-of the receptacle into said spout and connected theretofor pivotal movement of the cover, said conduit having an inlet openingat the bottom thereof above the container contiguous to said spout, anda transversely disposed, tapering blade depending from said conduitbetween said inlet opening and said pivot for swinging movementdownwardly and outwardly to cut a relatively enlarged opening in thecontainer, and means at the opposite side of the cover for locking thesame in closed position.

10. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, a spout projecting from said receptaclecontiguous to the upper end thereof, a cover having liquid directingmeans upon the inner side thereof extending into and pivotallyconnectedto said spout, said liquid directing means having an inletopening in the base thereof above the container contiguous to saidspout, and a tapering blade depending from the base of said liquiddirecting means between said inlet opening and the pivot.

11. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, a liquid baflling means projecting from the sideof the receptacle contiguous to the top thereof and serving as a spout,a hinged cover for the receptacle, a transversely extending liquidconducting means depending from the inner side of the cover andcommunicating with said bafliingmeans, said liquid conducting means inthe closed position of the cover having the base thereof lyingsubstantially in a horizontal plane in spaced relation to the containerand an inlet opening of substantial area in said base above thecontainer contiguous to said spout, and a tapering blade depending fromthe base of the liquid conducting means transversely of and between saidinlet opening and said spout and at an angle leaving said inlet openingin exposed relation to the top of the container when the cover isclosed, said blade having converging lateral cutting edges disposed toform an opening in the top of the container enlarged relative to thecross-section of the blade at the base thereof and directly below saidinlet opening in spaced relation thereto.

12. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle forreceiving a container, a spout on the receptacle contiguous to the topthereof, a cover having liquid conducting means upon the inner sidethereof extending through the wall of said receptacle into said spoutand pivotally connected to the spout, said liquid conducting meanshavlng an inlet opening of substantial area in the base thereof inspaced relation above the container, and a tapering blade havingconverging lateral cutting edges depending from the base of the liquidconducting means transversely of and between the inlet opening and saidpivotal connection in position leaving the inlet opening exposed to thetop of the container, said blade being disposed to form an opening inthe top of the container enlarged relative to the cross-section of theblade at the base thereof and directly below the opposed inlet opening.

NA'I'HAN H. BUSCHMAN.

